Want to know the secret to success? The formula is part positive thinking and part self-awareness. It's easy to become jaded when life gets tough, but don't get caught up in negative thoughts because it may hinder your progress. Seeing the world as a glass half empty may lead you to give up easier and not try as hard because you may think that it's pointless to even make an attempt. Here's how you can banish those negative thoughts for good.

Get a Gratitude Journal

Writing down a list of things that you are grateful for can renew your appreciation for the things that you've been taking for granted. The gratitude list will cause you to focus on the positive and not the negative. Doing this daily can ingrain this type of positive thinking in your mind.There are plenty of really cool gratitude journals available on Amazon, like this 2012 Gratitude Journal ($8).

Surround Yourself With Friends

Friends make a person happier and can distract you from the negative in your life. They also provide a form of emotional support and can be there for you when the going gets tough. Feeling isolated will make you feel more negative because you'll start having these unrealistic negative thoughts about yourself that your friends can't counter. Friends will help ground you and give you a good dose of reality.

Defeat Your Thoughts on Paper

If you keep ruminating on something gloomy, write it down on a sheet of paper. Then play devil's advocate and write down several arguments to counter it. Keep on doing this, and you'll feel much better. Sometimes you get so focused on yourself and your misery that it's hard for you to find solutions or a positive perspective.

Offer to Pet-Sit

Having animals around you makes you happier, so offer to pet-sit for your friends when they take trips. If you can put in the money, time, and energy, you should really consider adopting a pet. Seeing how animals take such joy in simple things will snap you out of your doom and gloom mind-set.

Lose Yourself in an Activity

If you're obsessing about something, you need to break that seemingly never-ending loop of bad thoughts. Pick an activity that you know you can really lose yourself in, such as playing a sport, meditating, or even reading. Anything that will take your mind off of whatever is bothering you.

Take in the Outdoors

Scientists say that taking in nature can really calm a person's mind. Make it a point to go to a place with greenery, be it a nearby park or garden. Take a deep breath and inhale the smells and absorb sights of nature. You'll find negativity fading away.

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Negative thoughts really are the proverbial demons plaguing our soul and filling our head with doubts. As one who comes from a family struggling with depression and clinical negativity, I can testify first-hand to the unwanted effects of anti-depressants and other forms of mind-numbing medication. I appreciate this list, then, for its wholesome, constructive suggestions for combating dark thoughts. Surrounding yourself with friends, family, and the unconditional affection of pets will never fail to remind you of the many blessings life affords. Although no one wakes up in the morning excited to head to work, losing yourself in a constructive or money-making endeavor will not only allow yourself to let go of the negativity but give you a reason to celebrate after the job is done. Also, never underestimate the power of writing as catharsis as well as recreation.